by Piper Stone
“Twice in one night you’ve attacked me. Twice. You don’t get a third time.”
“Attack you?” she countered. “I don’t care who you are or what you want.”
A full minute ticked by.
“Then I guess you can make your way back without my help.” He nodded and walked around her, heading for the driver’s door.
“Yep.” She fidgeted and wanted to scratch his eyes out.
“By the way. Ralph asked me to help with the horses and do some carpentry work. I’ll be in and out, but trust me, sunshine, I won’t bother you.”
“Just perfect. My night has come to a ridiculous end.”
Stoker tilted his head back, groaning. “Christ, you’re a damn handful. Okay, I’m leaving now, leaving you all alone in the wilderness in the dark.” He trudged toward the truck.
After darting a glance over her shoulder, she groaned and stamped her foot. Damn the man. “Wait. Please wait. Can you take me back? I admit, I’m not entirely certain where I’m going.”
“Finally, some truth. Get in.”
She didn’t wait for him to change his mind. Shoving her pride back down into an ugly box, she eased into now what she could see to be a huge truck. She stared out the window as he threw the truck into gear.
“Ramblers one and three. We need assistance. Engine companies 12, 14 and 6.”
“What is that?” She glared at the dashboard.
“Shh. Learn to be quiet. Will ya?” He leaned forward and twisted a knob.
“The fire is out of control and spreading to other homes. We need all hands on deck.”
“Shit!” he exclaimed and gunned the engine. Within seconds he blew past the turn leading back to the cabin.
“Hold on. Where are you taking me?”
He shot a look in her direction. “You wanted to see the countryside. Well, you’re getting your chance.”
“What does that mean?” she demanded.
“That means you’re coming with me. Fasten your seat belt and do your best to stay quiet. Got it?”
She opened her mouth to retort then folded her arms.
His breath strangled, he pointed his finger. “I said, fasten your seat belt. Now.”
The words ‘or what’ came to mind, but she didn’t press her luck. Instead she did as she was told and remained quiet. In no time, she realized what he’d been listening to was a scanner, no doubt attached to a fire station.
He drove like a bat out of hell, careening around turns.
“Slow down. You’ll kill us.”
“Stay quiet. You already almost did that,” he snorted.
She bristled but shrunk into the seat. When they cleared the forest and onto a straight away, she gasped. “Jesus Christ.” An eerie orange glow lit up the night sky. “We’re going to that?”
“I am. You’re staying in the truck.” He shot her another look. “Or else.”
“Hold on here. I can do what I want,” she retorted.
“This is dangerous. Do you understand? I’m not going to have you interfering or otherwise attempting to get yourself killed, no matter how much of a pain in the ass you are. I shouldn’t have brought you here, but I don’t think I had a choice. Just do as I say.”
Jessica reared up, thoughts of striking his sexy mug floating in the back of her mind.
“If you get hurt, I’ll be to blame. I can’t have that,” he added, his voice softening.
“Fine. I’ll stay in the truck.” Crossing her arms, she stared straight ahead.
“Good.” Stoker maneuvered down a darkened road, finally making a single turn. “Good God almighty.”
The entire mountainside seemed to be on fire. She craned her neck as perspiration trickled down from her hairline. She slid to the edge of her seat and pressed her hand against the glass. “What in the hell started this fire?” Fire engines and flashing blue lights came into view, sirens screaming as they rolled by.
“You mean who?”
“Arson?”
“My thoughts anyway. Won’t know for certain until the fire investigator does his job.” He pulled the truck to the side and killed the engine. Sighing, he didn’t bother to look at her. “I’m serious about this. Stay here. You’ll be in the way and you could get hurt. I won’t be long. God knows I shouldn’t be here.”
“But—” she dared to ask.
“But nothing. I don’t want to see you get yourself injured in any way. You don’t know the terrain or the wild life. I’ll be back in a little while. Then I’ll take you home.”
Wild life. The realization she was smack in the middle of God’s country where the creatures roamed gave her a series of shivers. She opened her mouth but he was already out of the truck. When the door was slammed, the entire vehicle shook. The man was pissed. She thought about his words. Why shouldn’t he be here? Maybe he wasn’t really a fireman. Several people rushed by the truck, giving it a sideways glance. She could swear several were men she’d seen in the bar. One thing was for certain. This was more than she’d signed up for.
“What in the hell are you doing here?”
Stoker winced hearing Garcia’s tone. “I knew the fire was horrific given the radio chatter. Had to come. Arson?”
Garcia wiped his face and eased on his helmet. “We don’t know yet but the fire is burning too hot to be an accident.”
“Same shit as before?”
“Maybe. My gut says we’re dealing with the same guy, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“Then I need to suit up.” Stoker walked past, searching for his engine company.
Garcia grabbed Stoker’s arm, jerking him close. “You’re suspended. Remember?”
“You are too. So what? They need our help. How’s that leg.”
“Stop worrying about my damn leg. I’ll be just fine,” Garcia huffed as he gave Stoker a heated look. “I’m here as a jumper, albeit a rookie, in case you forgot. Now stay back or you’re going to be terminated. You know the Captain.”
He looked up at the side of the mountain. His instinct had been working overtime since the first fire almost a month before. “Anyone hurt?”
Frowning, he remained silent until he fastened the buckle. “I heard they pulled a body out. I don’t know anything else. Look, I gotta get going. We’re going to tackle it from the air.”
“A body.” Stoker’s blood ran cold. “I knew it. I told you that this was more than just random fires.”
“Yeah? Well hold the thought until after you’re off suspension. Do yourself a favor and go home.”
“Not sure I can.”
Garcia turned to face him then nodded toward Stoker’s truck. “Besides, seems like you’re occupied for the evening. The captain will kick your ass if he knows you brought a civilian here.”
“She’s no civilian. She’s…” He shook his head. “She’s a menace.”
“Menace? Is that what you’re calling your lady friends now? Get her out of here, Stoker. You don’t need any additional shit and neither do I,” Garcia chortled and thumped him on the back. “My team can handle this. Stop worrying.”
“Yeah? Whatever.” He swallowed the bile sitting in his throat as Garcia raced away. He was supposed to be here. This was his fire. He knew he was onto something. Unable to resist, he moved closer until he caught the eye of his Captain. The look said enough. He was walking on thin ice. Frustrated, he eased back into the shadows, his gut churning. He didn’t need to be close to the scene to know the catastrophic event was already a crown fire, rushing through the dense tree tops.
Stoker watched from a distance as a good two dozen men from three engine companies battled the fire. They made little headway. Everything was burning hot and fast. This had to be a flash fire. He’d bet everything he knew. The arsonist was escalating. There’d be more dead bodies if they didn’t stop him. Or her. He knew tonight he wasn’t going to garner any additional information. He’d have to wait until there was nothing but ashes. He’d seen this kind of set-up before. Now his mind was racing. Th
ere was something else at work here.
The sound of the single plane in the air drew his attention. If the smokejumpers couldn’t help curtail or even turn the fire, the entire canyon could be lost. He tipped his head, gazing into the mottled sky. The air was thankfully still humid, a factor that would aid in the efforts. The recent rain had moistened the brittle ground. Maybe, this could be contained.
He studied the aircraft maneuvering toward the bank of fires, every house dangerously close to the edge of the mountains. If the trees at the base of the rocks caught fire, the blaze would rip through the foliage, eating everything in its path.
He was sweating, pumped full of adrenaline. This was his calling and one he’d had since he watched his father in action.
“Why is that plane going toward the fire?”
Hair stood up on the back of his neck. He should have figured she wouldn’t be able to obey his orders. “Smoke jumping team doing their job.”
“What?”
“A team of highly qualified men and women who battle blazes from the air, often jumping straight into the area of the fire to contain the dangerous situation.”
“Wow. Did you practice that educational speech?” Jessica flanked his side.
“Did I mention to you that this is a dangerous situation?” Stoker heard the snarl in the tone of his voice and shook his head.
“Yeah. I get it and I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a bitch.” Jessica remained quiet for a couple of minutes. When she spoke, her attitude had changed. “Aren’t you going to help them fight the fire?”
Stoker shrugged. “I’m not a jumper any longer, just a fireman.”
“Okay. Why? I mean why the difference?”
He gave her a look as he sighed, unused to telling anyone why he had made certain difficult decisions. Even in the shadowed lighting, he was overwhelmed by her beauty. He smiled and looked back toward the fire. “Specialized field and I don’t think I’m cut out to jump any longer for one thing.”
“The other?”
“You always this pushy?”
“Yes.” Chuckling, she dug her heel into the dirt. “Just my nature. I can tell you’re itching to be there, work with the team.”
“I am. I was suspended from the fire department.”
“Why?”
Stoker contemplated his answer. “I went against orders. Sometimes you have to play by the rules and I find that difficult.”
“Ah. Two birds of a feather.” Jessica took several steps forward, a pensive look on her face.
The statement might be the most accurate one to date. He had to admit, he liked this girl. There was no reason why, no method of understanding. Some said his habit of sizing people up in thirty seconds or less was a detriment. For him, the peculiar penchant had been lifesaving. “Why are you here?”
“What do you mean?”
He moved closer, keeping a short distance between them and giving her a hard look. She was electric in every way, a woman he wasn’t accustomed to. “You seem out of place, out of sorts. You certainly don’t seem like you’re a country girl.”
“No. That I’m not, even though I can appreciate the incredible beauty.”
He’d been around enough lost souls to know when someone was on the edge, teetering as if they had no clue who they were any longer. “You might be surprised how a change in lifestyle can aid in figuring shit out.”
Jessica looked up toward the mountains, a slight smile crossing her face. She darted a look in his direction. “Even with the fire, this is amazing. You know? I never really stopped to appreciate the beauty of nature. I’ve spent so much time devoting my life to pleasing strangers that I forgot how beautiful the world truly is.”
“They call it Big Sky Country,” he said with no inflection. He’d almost forgotten himself just how majestic the mountains and landscaping truly were.
“I can see why. You can breathe here, reflect on the past while looking toward the future.” She half smiled and slid her fingers across her mouth.
“Is that why you came to Missoula?” Stoker noticed the intimate gesture, the memory she’d shared with someone special once upon a time.
“I came because I had few choices. My life is one huge mess.” Her words trailed off to near silence. “Not that my horrendous life matters to some arrogant cowboy with a hatred of women.”
Exhaling, Stoker refused to lash out, accepting the bait. She’d ceremoniously pushed people out of her life as a defense mechanism. The behavioral trait he knew cold. “I don’t hate women. I just take my job seriously. I love this place, can’t stand the thought of anyone trying to destroy what took God hundreds, even thousands of years to create. If that makes me a bad person, then so be it.”
“That doesn’t make you a bad person. I’m sorry I interfered. I guess I don’t know any other way.”
She was a kindred spirit, a woman searching to find her lost soul. He was ill-equipped to handle any amount of comfort. “Some say the land here is sacred, a gathering place for souls crossing over to the other side. The Indians came to this area because of the water source. There are three rivers that provide running water and the very giving of life. They are a respected resource but often forgotten in our efforts to succeed as modern humans. There is little respect for the old ways of life or love.”
She turned slightly, her expression conflicted. Haunted. “I do understand what you’re saying. Perhaps I was looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Money. Fame. I wanted everything out of life that glossy magazines and executives stated was the key to success. For me, I became lost in the crowd.”
“I believe we all lose our way, especially given interference from family or friends,” Stoker was surprised the words came so easily.
Offering a half smile, she exhaled as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulder. “When I was a little girl I lived in a fantasy world, one where knights protected fair maidens and good always surpassed evil. I preferred imaginary friends. They were easy and safe. They cared about what I said, my little girl desires. I think I grew up believing I could find my own hero, an amazing man who could love me no matter how damaged or broken I was.”
The words were chilling, a direct reflection of a woman who’d obviously had a driven life. What in God’s name had happened to her? “I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not certain they exist.” He noticed she clenched and unclenched her fists.
“Yeah, I know. I finally burst the bubble, joining the real world. Sadly, I have no idea who Jessica Dunn truly is.”
The words were stilling, providing a slight insight to the woman obviously buried inside. “Then, Jessica Dunn, what do you hope to find?”
“That’s a good question.” She lifted her head, craning her neck and gazing at the moon. Taking several strides forward, she held out her arms. “Peace. Solace in myself. Direction.”
“You’re haunted.”
“Fascinating you figured that out so quickly. Sadly, you’re right. Then again, you would understand about being haunted by one’s own soul. Isn’t that right, cowboy?”
Stoker held his breath as he walked toward her. He kicked his heel into the dirt, debating even answering her. “Yeah. More than you know.”
“Why? I’m curious. You seem to have everything in your life.”
“Why?”
“Why can’t you free yourself from the demons feasting on your soul?” she asked as she turned to face him.
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“That I know well. There has to be more.”
A chill oozed into his cells, every muscle. He clenched his fists as he unfolded the compartmentalized sections of his heart. Swallowing back tears, he knew he could only say the words once. “Because I’m the man responsible for a horrible accident. I’m a terrible human being and in truth, I deserve to die.”
Chapter 5
The fire is now almost ninety percent contained. Good news, folks. The crisis has been averted. Sadly, a member of our community lost his life in
the blaze. In late breaking news, a member of the local smoke jumping team has been reported injured in the effort to abate the fire. While he is alive, unfortunately there’s no news on his condition at this time. We’ll keep you updated in upcoming broadcasts. Now, over to Marni for a highlight on today’s weather.
“Goddamn it. God fucking damn it!” Stoker slammed his hand on the steering wheel, hissing as he snapped off the radio, turning the knob with force. “I’ll hunt the asshole down, kill the fucker.”
Wincing, Jessica heard the anguish in Stoker’s voice. He’d been almost completely silent since leaving the scene of the fire. Exhausted, she glanced at the morning sun before eyeing her watch – a little after seven. She’d been in town less than twenty-four hours. Interesting way of learning the city. “Do you know everyone from the team?” The question was lame as shit, but the silent treatment had created tension. She had fleeting thoughts of liking the disgruntled cowboy, but the man refused to let his guard down.
He swung onto a gravel driveway. Instead of slowing down, he accelerated until dirt and bits of rock flew up and over the hood of the truck. “Not all of them, but doesn’t matter. We take care of our own.”
“Maybe he’ll be okay.” Holding her breath, she gripped the leather handle over the passenger door as she bumped the roof. She had a feeling the man was capable of inflicting severe bodily harm. He was certainly built for the task. Powerful upper arms, broad shoulders and a muscular chest were the extension of a carved torso and long legs. Even the ink covering both arms was sexy, adding to the mysterious aura around the masked man. She’d found herself staring at him while they waited, hovering in the dark, even imagining him without his tight jeans. Sighing, she admonished her thoughts. He was also the most arrogant and self-centered man she’d ever met.
He looked over, his expression blank. “Maybe.”
“Well, I hope so.”
Stoker grunted in acknowledgment.
“Thank you for driving me home,” Jessica said over the roar of the engine, thankful the seatbelt was secured. The man was a ball full of anger, a conflicted and mysterious soul. For the briefest of seconds, they’d connected, as if their thoughts and past lives were the same. Now? He was overwrought, pumped full of nasty adrenaline.